Reeds for musical instruments



Jan. 19, 1965 J BURNS 3,165,963

REEDS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed April 16, 1962 ByJ/ww MM .4 Home yUnited States Patent r 3,165,963 r REEDS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS JohnKeith Anthony Burns, Rapley Green, Eastiiarnpstead, Brachnell, EnglandFiled Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,734) Qlaims priority,applicationGr-eat Britain, May 4, 1961,

, l6,222 /61 l (Ilaim. (Cl. tie-83) This invention relates to reeds formusical instruments, such as Clarinets, oboes, saxophones and the like,

Reeds in present day use are fabricated from cane. Being susceptible tomoisture they rapidly deteriorate from the moisture of a performersmouth in use and require frequent replacement. Moreover, the quality andcharacteristics of the canes from which they are made varies, and it isextremely difficult to ensure that two reeds made to the same dimensionsand intended for the same purpose in the same instrument will have thesame musical quality and characteristics.

The object of the invention is to provide reeds free from the aforesaidlimitations and defects of known cane reeds, and With this end in viewthe invention consists in a reed for a musical instrument comprising aroot portion running to a comparatively thin tip portion, the wholebeing formed of synthetic resin having reinforcement embedded therein.

It has been found that a reed made of synthetic resin only is not verysatisfactory, but that the provision of embedded reinforcement rendersit satisfactory. A preferred reinforcement is a netting of fibre glass,and this may be embedded in an epoxy resin, ora polyester resin, orother suitable synthetic resin. The outer end of the reed is preferablyof tapered wedge section, and terminates at a short distance from thetip at a discontinuity such as a transverse step or groove. If desiredmore than one discontinuity may be provided, e.g. two spaced parallelsteps or grooves. The rear portion of the reed may be of conventionalshape, with the upper surface of the root rounded to facilitate grippingby a ligature which secures it in a musical instrument. Thereinforcement may extend throughout the reed which may be fabricatedfrom a preformed sheet or rod of reinforced synthetic resin, or may bemade by moulding the synthetic resin to the reinforcement.

Save for the aforesaid features the reed may be substantially of theknown shape and dimensions of cane reeds which they are to replace.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following descriptionof forms (given, however, merely by way of example) which it may assume,and this description will be more readily followed by reference to theaccompanying drawings herewith, wherein FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 representrespectively plan view, opposite end elevations and a side elevation ofa reed according to the invention suitable for a musical instrument suchas a clarinet; and

FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8 represent like views of an oboe reed according tothe invention.

Referring to the aforesaid drawings a reed according to the inventionfor a musical instrument comprises a strip forming a root portion 1leading to a tip portion 2, the undersurface of the reed beingsubstantially flat or slightly curved, and the upper surface of the rootbeing rounded, or chamfered at the sides, in conventional manner tofacilitate the securing of the reed by a ligature in a musicalinstrument. From approximately its mid-point the reed is tapered inthickness or of wedge section to the tip 2. The upper surface of thiswedge portion may be flat, or slightly concave as at 3. At a shortdistance from the tip 2 the wedge has a discontinuity such as a step 4or a weakening notch or groove extending transversely 3,165,963 PatentedJan. 19, 1965 of the reed, and in plan view the edge of the tip 2 isrounded off, as shown in conventional manner.

The oboe reed shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8 is of the same constructionas described above, except that the wedge-portion widens out to aspade-like shape, as required in a musical instrument of this type.

Reeds of the shape described above may be formed, eg, by fabrication ormoulding, from a synthetic resin, e.g. and epoxy resin or a polyesterresin, with a reinforcement embedded therein. While it is believed thatthe main beneficial effect of such reinforcement is derived from ii resof the reinforcement extending longitudinally of the reed (and whileconstructions of that kind are not excluded from the scope of theinvention), a preferred reinforcement is in the form of. netting 5 oflongitudinal and transverse fibres, which may be interwoven. Preferablythe reinforcing fibres are of glass, and woven fibre glass may beembedded in the reed during moulding from synthetic resin, or in apreformed sheet or strip of moulded resin from which the reed isfabricated.

Reeds such as indicated herein have been satisfactorily produced bytaking a sheet of synthetic resin in which is embedded a fibre-glassnet, the sheet being of the thickness required at the root of the reed,and cutting from this sheet, e.g. by a saw, strips of the desired lengthand breadth. Each strip is then machined by grinding to the requiredshape and dimensions, (e.g. as shown in FIGURE 5). Alternatively thecorrect contours may be formed, cg. by grinding, on the sheet ofmaterial which may then be cut into strips of correct length and breadthto form reeds (e.g. as shown in FIGURE 1).

Reeds such as described above are unaffected by moisture, and have along life in use. Moreover, the quality and dimensions of the materialsused can be accurately controlled to conform with prearranged standards,and uniform musical characteristics therefore ensured in reeds intendedfor the same purpose.

It will be seen, therefore, that the invention provides highlysatisfactory reeds for musical instruments, having a longer life andgreater reliability than reeds heretofore in use, but it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited solely to details of theform described above which may be modified, in order to meet variousconditions and requirements encountered, without departing from thescope of the invention.

What I claim is:

A woodwind reed comprising a root portion, an intermediateforwardly-tapering portion of substantial length terminating at a sharpstep extending transversely the full width of the reed, said stepsubstantially reducing the thickness of the reed to a thin tip portionextending forwardly and being of progressively smaller thicknessforwardly of said step, the maximum thickness of said tip portion beingat the bottom of said step, the said root portion, intermediate portionand tip portion being integrally formed of synthetic resin havingembedded therein reinforcing glass fibers extending longitudinally ofthe reed and running to the tip of the reed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,966 7/30Arthur 84-383 2,2 87,529 6/42 Maccaferri 84--3 83 2,919,617 1/ 60Brilhart 84-383 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,121,053 4/56 France.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

ARNOLD RUEGG, Examiner.

